Spring is on the way. I know with the recent ice storm we just had here in Iowa it seems farther away than we'd like at the moment, but in no time we will be able to open up the windows, let the fresh air in, and embrace the new season.
But before you can fully enjoy the warmer weather, it’s important to give your home a thorough cleaning. Whether you’re a fan of cleaning or not, there’s no denying that a good spring clean can do wonders for your home and your state of mind.
In this post, we’ll be sharing our ultimate spring cleaning list to help you get your home sparkling clean this season.
Decluttering
Before you start cleaning, it’s important to declutter your home. This means getting rid of anything that you no longer need or use. Start by going through your closets, drawers, and cabinets. Donate or sell anything that’s in good condition, and throw away anything that’s broken or unusable. Be ruthless – the less clutter you have, the easier it will be to keep your home clean and organized.
Deep Cleaning
Once you’ve decluttered, it’s time to start deep cleaning. This means tackling areas of your home that may have been neglected during your regular cleaning routine.
Pro Tip: work from the ceiling down in each area to avoid having to clean areas multiple times remembering to dust first.
Dust your blinds, curtains, and fan blades: These areas can collect a lot of dust and allergens and probably don't get cleaned as much as they should. Use a microfiber cloth or a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean them thoroughly.
Wash your walls: Surprisingly enough our walls can also get dirty over time. Use a mild soap and water to wash them down, and don’t forget to wipe down the door frames, light switches and outlet covers too.
Windows and Sliding Doors: Clean the glass inside and out, and don’t forget to wipe down the sills and frames. Now is a great time to switch out your storms for screens.
Furniture: Take the time to dust and wipe down all of your furniture, including the hard-to-reach areas. This is also a great time to condition any wood pieces.
Baseboards: Your baseboards can accumulate a lot of dust and dirt that may not be visible to the naked eye, especially if there are furniture pieces in front of them. Use a damp cloth to wipe them down and remove any grime.
Hardwood and Tile Floors: Sweep and mop. Condition those wood floors and give the grout a good scrub.
Carpets and Rugs: Vacuum your carpets and rugs thoroughly, and consider having them professionally cleaned if they’re looking particularly worn or stained.
Clean your Shower Curtain and Liner: Your shower curtain and liner can get moldy over time. Wash them in the washing machine with some towels to help scrub away any buildup just check the tag for cleaning instructions.
Disinfect your trash cans: Your trash cans can harbor a lot of germs and bacteria. Use a disinfectant spray or wipes to clean them thoroughly.
Appliances: Give your appliances a deep clean, including your oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Use a degreaser to remove any built-up grime.
Kitchen and Bathroom Cabinets: Use a mild soap and water to wash the doors and drawer fronts. Extra credit for a deep dive that includes a full decluttering and wipe out inside the cabinets and drawers,
Organizing
Once you’ve decluttered and deep cleaned your home, it’s time to get organized. This means finding a place for everything and making sure everything is in its place. Invest in some storage solutions, such as bins and baskets, to help keep your home organized. Label everything to make it easy to find what you need, and make sure to put things back where they belong after you use them. Don't know where to start to getting a solution in place we wrote a whole post on it here
Outdoors
Outdoor light fixtures and fans: It’s time to spruce up the backyard pre-entertaining season. Get your microfiber cloth at the ready to dust all the fixtures and bulbs you can reach. To clean grimy areas, lightly dampen a cloth with vinegar and wipe. For ceiling fans, skip the ladder and use an extendable duster.
Give surfaces a high-pressure wash: Give your home’s exterior a sparkling shine by high pressure cleaning the siding and windows. Bonus point given for tackling the front steps, sidewalks, and driveway. Not only will this remove the build up of dust and dirt, it will also help prevent the growth of mold and mildews that can often feed on grime. If you're worried about whether your home's exterior can handle the force of a pressure-washer, hire a professional to tackle the job.
Seasonal gutter maintenance: Your roof's drainage system diverts thousands of gallons of water from your home's exterior and walls every year. Make the effort to clean and repair gutters and downpipes every spring and fall to ensure they’re working most efficiently.
Spring cleaning may not be the most fun task, but it’s an important one. By following this ultimate spring cleaning checklist you can get your home sparkling clean and ready for the new season. And once your home is clean and organized, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the warmer weather knowing that your home is in top shape.
If you need help getting your home spring ready for listing or if you just want a spring home makeover get in touch with us. We are happy to help you tackle your project.
Spring Cleaning Checklist by Room
Here's a room-by-room checklist we created to help guide your spring cleaning efforts. You can download it here
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